Award

Upgrade of Automatic Ticket Gates with EMV Readers, associated software and integration services.

  • NORTHERN TRAINS LIMITED

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-035933

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-05557f

Published 28 June 2025, 4:49pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

NORTHERN TRAINS LIMITED

George Stephenson House

York

YO16JT

Contact

Robin Horsman

Email

Robin.Horsman@northernrailway.co.uk

Telephone

+44 7827937566

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKE21 - York

Companies House

03076444

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.northernrailway.co.uk

one.6) Main activity

Railway services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Upgrade of Automatic Ticket Gates with EMV Readers, associated software and integration services.

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 30123100 - Ticket-validation machines

two.1.3) Type of contract

Supplies

two.1.4) Short description

Upgrade of Automatic Ticket Gates (ATGs) with EMV (Europay, Mastercard and Visa) readers, associated software and integration into the into the Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) Bee Network (Phase 1).

The contract will upgrade existing ATG equipment and software to allow payment transactions to integrate into the TfGM Account-Based Ticketing (ABT) scheme.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 72212100 - Industry specific software development services
    • DA42 - Including installation

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKC - North East (England)
  • UKD - North West (England)
  • UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
  • UKF - East Midlands (England)

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Upgrade of Automatic Ticket Gates (ATGs) with EMV (Europay, Mastercard and Visa) readers and associated software. This will integrate into the into the Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) Bee Network (Phase 1).

The contract will upgrade existing ATG equipment and software to allow payment transactions to integrate into the TfGM Account-Based Ticketing (ABT) scheme. The activities will include as minimum:

• Software development.

• Upgrade of payment readers to accept contactless EMV physical and virtual cards on devices alongside existing fare media

• Deployment of a supplier middle office.

• Integration from the supplier middle office to the TfGM Secure Middle Office (SMO).

• PCI certification.

• Supply & Install of EMV readers.

• Commissioning of devices for use at various stations on the operating networks of Northern Trains Limited 'NTL', TransPenine Trains Limited 'TPT', and First Trenitalia West Coast Rail Limited 'Avanti'.

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Negotiated without a prior call for competition

  • The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
    • protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights

Explanation:

Award a contract directly as this approach is allowed under the UCR's where restrictions on the use of IPR do not trigger a requirement to conduct a new OJEU-compliant tender

process.

We believe in this circumstance the following is applicable:

There are grounds where NTL as public body could award a subsequent contract to a third party using the exemptions in Regulation 50 of the UCR. This exemption is provided for under the UCR Regulation 50(1)(c) which allows Utilities to award a contract where the works, supplies or services can be supplied only by a particular supplier because competition is absent for technical reasons and where no reasonable alternative or substitute exists. The supplier owns copyright and the IPR in all the software. The absence of competition is not the result of an artificial narrowing down of the parameters of the procurement.

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes


Section five. Award of contract/concession

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

27 June 2025


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Department for Transport

Great Minster House,

London

SW1P 4DR

Country

United Kingdom